Freight transportation

Minnesota’s 2,960 miles of critical interregional corridors (IRCs) outside the Twin Cities area link the state’s main centers of economic activity and boost the state’s economic vitality through their function as important freight routes. Read More

Traffic congestion poses problems for trucks carrying freight in the Twin Cities area. Congestion reduces productivity and increases the cost of freight operations through decreases in vehicle availability, fuel efficiency and hours of productive service from drivers. Read More

Freight in Minnesota moves by truck, train, ship and plane and often is carried on different modes of transportation for different parts of the journey. This means that intermodal freight movement is important, and the transfer of freight between modes is a significant challenge and opportunity for shippers and haulers. Read More

The recent trend in freight has been more weight and fewer restrictions. Allowable truck weights for Minnesota depend in large part on the strength of the road-and-bridge infrastructure that bears the load. Truck weights matter to a range of stakeholders, including the driving public, which faces safety concerns over heavier trucks. Read More